Kolkata Test: South Africa stun India in low-scoring thriller
16 Nov 2025

In an absolute low-scoring thriller, South Africa beat India by 30 runs in the opening Test at Kolkata's Eden Gardens to go 1-0 up in the two-match affair.

None of the four innings saw a 200-plus score as the game ended within three days, with India failing to accomplish the 124-run target.

The only half-century of the game came from Temba Bavuma's blade.

How did the game pan out?
Summary

SA were all out for 159 batting first as Bumrah claimed a fifer. Aiden Markram (31) top-scored for them.

In response, India posted 189/10 with KL Rahul (39) and Washington Sundar (29) making the top contributions.

SA managed 153/10 in their second outing with skipper Bavuma scoring 55*.

Chasing 124 for victory, India lost regular wickets and were eventually folded for 93.

The Shubman Gill factor!
Fact

Notably, India had just nine wickets in both innings as team skipper Shubman Gill sustained an injury after facing three balls in India's first innings. He was subsequently taken to hospital for examination, which ruled him out of the game.

Bumrah claims his 16th Test fifer
Milestone

Bumrah finished his first-innings spell with 5/27 from his 14 overs - marking his 16th Test fifer.

As per Cricbuzz, he became first fast bowler since Ishant Sharma in 2019 to take a five-for on the opening day of a Test match in India.

He has now completed 232 Test wickets at an incredible average of 19.54.

Best bowling average in India
DYK

Bumrah has accounted for 60 wickets in home Tests at an excellent average of 16.68, as per ESPNcricinfo.

The tally includes three fifers now. Among bowlers with at least 50 Test wickets in India, Bumrah boasts the best average.

Meanwhile, this was his fourth fifer across nine Tests against SA, as he has raced to 43 wickets against them at an average of 18.97.

KL Rahul completes 4,000 Test runs
Rahul

With his 15th run in the game, Rahul completed 4,000 runs in Test cricket.

As per ESPNcricinfo, he has raced to 4,025 runs at 36.26 in the format, as his tally includes 11 tons and 20 half-centuries.

Over 3,500 of his runs have come while opening the innings.

Notably, Rahul top scored for India in the first innings, managing 39 off 119 balls.

Pant becomes batter with most Test sixes for India
Pant

Rishabh Pant is now India's all-time leading six-hitter in Test cricket.

He broke the tie with the legendary Virender Sehwag (90 sixes).

Pant smashed 27 off 24 balls in India's first innings, smashing two fours and as many sixes.

This knock has taken him to 92 sixes and 3,456 runs at an average of 43.75 in Test cricket (100s: 8, 50s: 18).

150 WTC wickets for Jadeja
Jadeja

Jadeja finished his third-innings spell with 4/50 from 20 overs.

As per ESPNcricinfo, this spell took his tally to 150 wickets from 47 WTC Tests at an average of 26.91. This includes nine four-fers and six five-wicket hauls.

Nathan Lyon (219) and Ravichandran Ashwin (195) are the only other spinners with 150-plus WTC scalps.

First all-rounder with this double
Fact

With the bat, Jadeja has scored 2,532 WTC runs at an average of 43.65. He has five centuries and 17 half-centuries to his name. No other player with at least 150 wickets in the championship has even managed 1,200 runs.

250 wickets in home Tests
Home Tests

Jadeja also became the fourth bowler ever to take 250 Test wickets in India.

He averages 20.83 in home Tests. With the bat, he has scored 2,154 runs in these games at 39.16.

As per Cricbuzz, the veteran became the second player after Stuart Broad (in England) with the Test double of 2000-plus runs and 250-plus wickets in a country.

4,000 runs in Tests
Career

Earlier in the game, Jadeja went past 4,000 Test runs. He scored 27 off 45 balls in India's first innings.

He has completed 4,035 runs at 38.43.

With the ball, he now boasts 342 wickets at an average of 25.10 (5W: 15, 4W: 16).

Jadeja is now among the four players with the Test double of 4,000 runs and 300 wickets.

Bavuma slams resilient half-century in Kolkata Test
Bavuma

The only 40-plus score in the game came from Bavuma's blade as the SA skipper made 55* off 136 balls in the third innings.

the Proteas skipper has racked up 3,766 runs at an average of 38.42. His tally includes four tons and 26 half-centuries.

431 of his runs have come against India at 35.91, as this includes three fifties.

1,500 runs in away Tests
Fact

With this knock, Bavuma also went past 1,500 runs in away Test matches (home of the opposition). Across 28 games in this regard, he has raced to 1,517 runs at an average of 32.27. This includes 12 fifties with a best score of 89.

Twin four-fers for Harmer
Harmer

Harmer recorded figures worth 4/30 and 4/21 in the game. He has raced to 60 Test wickets at an average of 23.38.

Four of his seven Test four-fers have come across six innings on Indian soil. He also owns a solitary fifer.

A veteran of First-Class cricket, Harmer has raced to a whopping 1,008 wickets from 235 games at 26-plus (4W: 51, 5W: 58).

Harmer only behind Dale Steyn
DYK

As per ESPNcricinfo, Harmer recorded the second-best match figures by an SA bowler in Tests in India (8/51 from 29.2 overs).

He is only behind pace-bowling legend Dale Steyn, who claimed 10/108 in the 2010 Nagpur affair - the preceding Test that the Proteas team won in India.

Five wickets in the game for Jansen
Jansen

Fast bowler Marco Jansen also bowled two vital spells in the game - 3/35 from 15 overs.

Playing his 20th Test, he has raced to 82 wickets at an average of 22.06.

He has been sensational against India, scalping 27 wickets at 17.06. Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj took three wickets in the game.

Here are the notable numbers
Stats

As per Cricbuzz, SA recorded their maiden Test won on Indian soil since February 2010.

124 is the second-lowest target India have failed to chase down in Tests.

This is also the second-lowest successfully defended target by South Africa.

The Proteas also recorded the second-lowest successfully defended in Tests in India.